Telegraphic code.



JAMES EDWIN DEMPSEY,

'PATENT OFFICE.`

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TELEGRAPHIC CODE.

[SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 703,391, dated July 1, 1902.

Application tiled April 19. 1899. Serial No. 713,673. (No modelJ To all wwwt t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES EDWINDEMPSEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TelegraphicCodes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in what is generally known as a cipher-code77 used in transmitting messages by telegraph, and has for its object, primarily, to provide a means or system by which telegraphic communications may be transmitted at a great reduction in cost and at the same time provideapermanent code-book and a changeable code-book key to be used in connection therewith. The code-book key is entirely separate matter from the code-book, so that a nevi`7 key may be devised as often as necessary and the same code-book used indefinitely, thus practically getting a new code with each new key and saving the time, labor, and expense of formulating a new code-book when a change in the system is required.

Another important object is the great saving in expense oftransacting a railroad or commercial business by telegraph, as With this system the amount of matter in ordinary cipher-codes that is expressed by one word is covered in this cipher by a single letter, syllable, or part of a Word. An absolutely secret and economical system of ciphering is thus provided, the operation of which is hereinafter explained.

The code-book contains Words, phrases,sen tences, &c., which are arranged in column order, With'a number directly opposite each. These numbers appear in the code-book key, which is prepared separately from the codebook and arranged in columns in consecutive order, the range of the numbers in the codebook key being suicient to represent the highest number which appears in the codeboek, and directly opposite each number thus arranged is placed a syllable which represents that number in code-Words which are formed therefrom. The code-book key also contains certain additional numerals, also fractions, words, sentences, signs, and cha1acters,wl1ich are arranged in column orderand which have directly opposite each a letter, letters, syllable, or Word which represent the same when forming code-words to be sent over the Wire.

This cipher-code can be used generally, but is more especially devised for the use ot' railroads, corporations, and commercial houses, who necessarily have to transact the bulk of their business by Wire, so that secrecy and the question of a saving economy in the transmission of messages are very important features.

This improved method o`r system of ciphering differs materially from the ordinary telegraph code, in that- First. The system is complete in two parts, consisting of a code-book and a code-book key, which are entirely separate and apart from each other.

Second. The matter in the code-book is represented by numerals, the pages being numbered in consecutive order, as is also each line of literary matter printed on each page, every line of matter on each page havinga numeral directly opposite it.-

Third. The code-book key is printed on a card or folder entirely separate from the codebook and is divided into three sections, as follows:

Section lis the key proper to the code-book and contains the numerals from l upward to any desired number, the range of the numbers in the key being sufiicient to represent the largest number which appears in the codebook. These numerals are -arranged in column order and have directlyI opposite each a syllable to represent that number in code- Words formed therefrom.

Section 2 of the code-book key is an auxiliary code and contains suchfractions and numerals as do not appear in or cannot be formed by joining any of the combinations or syllables in section 1. These fractions and numerals are arranged in columnorder, and there is placed directly opposite eachvnumber and fraction a syllable which will represent that particular number or fraction in code- Words in which it appears.

Section 3 of the code-book key is an auxiliary code and contains such signs, Words, and phrases as are commonly used in commercial business to assist sections l and 2 in cipher- IOO ing and decipher-ing matter. These signs, Words, and phrases are arranged in column order, and there is placed directly opposite each a letter, letters, syllable, or Word which stands for and represents that particular line of matter in the code-Words in which they appear.

By the joint use'of the three sections of the code-book key any fraction, per cent., time of day, quantity, dro., can be ciphered into a single syllab'le or word. Any letter, syllable, or word and joined to code-Words formed from syllables in section l of the key completely changes the meaning of that group so formed, the preceding word or syllable being governed by the meaning of the letter, word, or syllable from section 3 so affixed, and by the use of the three sections jointly any numerical combination desired can be expressed without any reference to the code-book.

Fourth: The exchanging of numerals which appear in the code-book for syllables Which are found in section l of the code-book key and which represent said numbers, such syllables being joined to other syllables until a word of any desired length is formed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis an illustration of a part of the first page of my code-book, showinga column of numerals, beginning With l at top of page and running downward in regular numerical order to any desired number. Opposite each of the numerals is a series of Words, phrases, or sentences in column order alphabetically arranged. Fig. 2 illustrates a part of Isection l of the code-book key used conjointly With the code-book in framing or coining the codewords and in deciphering or in arriving at a solution of the matter that is intended to be sent by telegraph. Figs. 3 and 4 illust-rate parts of section 2 of the code-book key used as an auxiliary code in forming certain combinations of numerals not otherwise provided for. Fig. 5 is an illustration of section 3 of the code-book key used as an auxiliary code, containing certain signs, words, sentences, &c., to be used as hereinafter explained. Fig. G is an illustrated example showing how the numeral 18 would be ciphered by reference to the key, Figs. 2 and 5; and Fig. 7 is an example showing how the matter in the code-book, Fig. 1, may be ciphered by reference to the code-book key, Fig. 2.

The pages of the code-book will usually be numbered in regular order from l upward, and ordinarily the Words, symbols, and characters used in the code-book key will not appear in the code-book.

The numerals and the words, phrasesand sentences in the code-book are arranged in parallel columns, and each line containing Words, phrases, and sentences will be controlled by the numeral directly opposite.

The matter on each and every page in the code-book will be numbered in precisely the same manner as illustrated in Fig. 1-viz., beginning with l at the top of the page into cipher under my system, the rule is to proceed by referring to the numerals, each numeral in the code-book being represented in the code-book key by a syllable, and by the grouping of such syllables the code-,Words are formed. The first syllable of the code- Word indicates the number of the page of the code-book on which the Words, phrases, or sentences Will be found, and the second syllable of the code-Word indicates the number of the line on that page, as illustrated bythe example in Fig. 7.

By reference to Fig. l it Will be noted that the Words Any quantity appear on page l, line 8,'of the code-book. In cipheringthese words the numerals l and S are transformed into a code-Word. This is done by referiging to Fig. 2, which represents a part of section l of the code-book key used .in connection With the code-book, in which we find that the numeral l is represented by the syllable Ba and the numeral 8 by the syllable Oi, which when placed together in the order given form the code-Word Baci, meaning in the language of the codebook Any quantity. The same rule governs throughout the entire code-book.

The form of key shown in Fig. 2 and used as a practical illustration is made up of monosyllables representing numerals from l up to any desired number. The portion of the code-book key shown in Fig. 3 is used for the purpose of assisting in ciphering communications containing a combination of numerals not provided for in sectionl of the codebook key, Fig. 2, and Fig. 4t is a continuation of Fig. 3.

In Fig. 5 is shown a collection ot' Words, phrases, signs, and sentences which are commonly used in business transactions and which have placed directly opposite thereto symbols that represent them when used in connection with sections l and 2 of the codebook key, as illustrated by the following explanation. In ciphering One A. M it is necessary to refer to Fig. 2, Where it will be found that One is represented by the syllable Ba, and to Fig. 5, where it will be found that A. M. is represented by the symbol Dom, which when joined together form the code-Word Badom, meaning One A. M. By following this same rule any time of day can be expressed in asingle Word. One car-load would be expressed by adding the symbol Y, Fig. 5, to the syllable Ba in Fig. 2, which forms the Word Bay, meaning in the language ofthe codebook One car-load. By adding the symbol S to any combination in a similar manner the phrase Less than car-loads is ob-r IOO IIO

tained. To further illustrate, suppose it is desired to cipher the clause Carboys, less than car-loads. By reference to Fig. 1 it will be found that the word Carlooys7 appears on page 1, line 15, of the code-book, and by following the rule above referred to and by reference to Fig. 2, the first section of the code-book key, we get the syllables Ba and Du, which when placed together form the code-Word Badu, meaning Carboys. To obtain the phrase Less than carloads, the symbol S on line 4: of Fig. 5, which is section 3 of the code-book key, is affixed or added to the code-word Badu, forming the code-word Badus, expressing in the language of the code-book the phrase Cai-boys, less than car-loads.77 The symbol Ys, line 5 of Fig. 5, maybe used in a similar manner in ciphering into and out of communication, differing only in the meaningviz., Gar-loads and less.

The symbol Ski, line 6 of Fig. 5, is usedv as a suiiix in connection with -code -words formed from section 1 of the code-book key and intended to express certain numerals, such as nu'mbers of cars, packages, shipments,&c. For example, the number 819 would be ciphered by referring to section 1 of the code-book key, Fig. 2, in connection with Fig. 5, taking the syllable BL meaning 3, and the syllable Fo, meaning 19, and by placing the two syllables together we form the code-word Bifo,7 meaning 319, and by adding the symbol Ski7 to the codeword Bifo the code-Word Bifoski is formed, indicating that the previous numbers which the syllables represent are to be understood literally and should not be looked for in the code-book. It will therefore be understood that section 1 of the code-book key to my cipher-code has two distinct functions: first, in deciphering words,phrases,sentences, &c., found in the code-book, and, second, by forming any numerical combination desired in connection with sections 2 and 3 of the codebook key, which function is entirely separate from and independent of the code-book proper and is to that extent an auxiliary code. All the other symbols and characters in section 3 of the code-book key, Fig. 5, are employed in a similar manner and are Worked on the same principle, as per the following examples:

Symbol: Soncents per 100 lbs.

20th instant- -Fugu11.

Ba-1 yQ- Za-/ -Bazabe.

Bef-2 The symbol Vy represents a per-cent. sign and Will be used in the code in the following manner:

Symbol: Ro-space, blank, or dash. This symbol will be used in separating characters when necessary. and 19 to be read literally (by reference to Figs. 2 and 5) would be written as follows:

ivi-1s 1S and lil- Ro-space }-Frofo.

iro-1e It will be readily seen that the representation of any quantity by its appropriate characters and signs is possible under the system and method herein set forth, the changes that For instance: .18

can be made in the key being almost endless. y

Under this system I have compiled a codebook of some one hundred and fifty pages,`

involving long and arduous labor, attended by great expense in printing the same, and by simply preparing a new key the entire code may be radically changed without mak-` ing the least change in the code-book.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcnt, is-

1. In a cipher-code, a code -book having words, phrases and sentences arranged incolumns therein, the pages of the book being numbered and the words, phrases and sentences on each page being also numbered, a code-book key comprising within its range all the numbers employed to designate pages of the book or Words, phrases, and sentences therein, the numbers of the key having associated therewith arbitrarily-selected syllables, whereby such syllables may be combined Eo represent words of the code-book, as set orth.

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2. In a cphercode, a code-book having l words, phrases and sentences arranged in columns therein, the pages of the book and the words, phrases and sentences on each page being numbered, a changeable code-book key comprising Within its range all the numbers employed to designate pages of the bookor words, phrases and sentences therein, the numbers of the key having associated therewith arbitrarily-selected syllables whereby such syllables may be combined to represent words of the code-book, as set forth.

4. In a cipher-code, a code-book having Words, phrases and sentences arranged in columns therein, the pages of the book being numbered and the words, phrases and sentences on each page being also numbered, an independent code-book key comprising Within its range all the numbers employed to designate pages of the book or Words, phrases and sentences therein, the numbers of the key having associated therewith arbitrarily-selected syllables, whereby such syllables may 6. A cipher-code, comprising a code-book containing a part of the message or information it is intended to transmit, and an independent, changeable code-book key, prepared separately from the code-book, and having associated therewith certain characters and symbols whereby it is possible to change a code-Word having one expression or meaning into another expression by afixing thereto a character or symbol provided for in the codebook key, as set forth.

7. In a cipher-code, a permanent code-book,

.having words, phrases and sentences arranged in columns therein, the pages of the book being numbered and the Words, phrases and sentences being also numbered, but containing no code-words or parts thereof, a change- 

